Electronic device, control method, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a first display unit, a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device including a second display unit, and a control unit configured to rotate an image to be displayed on the first display unit, in accordance with a rotational angle in a plane parallel to a screen of the first display unit, and rotate an image to be output to the external device, in accordance with the rotational angle of the first display unit and a rotational angle in a plane parallel to a screen of the second display unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device and a controlmethod of the same, and relates particularly to a technique ofdisplaying an image on a display unit that can rotate the image.

Description of the Related Art

So-called vertical image capturing for capturing an image withcomposition in which a long side of the image corresponds to alongitudinal direction is becoming popular. Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2010-35219 discusses a technique of displaying a capturedimage onto a display unit at an inverted horizontal-to-vertical ratio byrelative rotation, by 90°, between a first casing for capturing an imageof a subject and a second casing including the display unit about aconnecting shaft that relatively-rotatably connects the first casing andthe second casing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an electronic deviceincludes a first display unit, a communication unit configured tocommunicate with an external device including a second display unit, anda control unit configured to rotate an image to be displayed on thefirst display unit, in accordance with a rotational angle in a planeparallel to a screen of the first display unit, and rotate an image tobe output to the external device, in accordance with the rotationalangle of the first display unit and a rotational angle in a planeparallel to a screen of the second display unit.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of avideo camera serving as an example of an apparatus to which aconfiguration of the present exemplary embodiment can be applied.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are external views of the video camera serving asan example of an apparatus to which the configuration of the presentexemplary embodiment can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating display processing according to thepresent exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are diagrams each illustrating an example of a menuscreen according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating high-definition multimedia interface(HDMI) display processing according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating liquid crystal display (LCD) displayprocessing according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating orientations of images to be displayedon an LCD and a monitor based on a combination of orientations of acamera and the monitor.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, and 8E are diagrams each illustrating a displayexample of a captured image and image capturing information in eachstate of orientations of a camera and a monitor.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a video randomaccess memory (VRAM) and a readout direction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagramillustrating a configuration of a video camera 100.

A lens mount 102 is an outside lens connection unit. An image sensor 110is an image sensor including a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensoror a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor thatconverts a light flux having passed through an outside lens attached tothe lens mount 102, into an electronic signal.

A video signal processing unit 121 generates image data by performingpredetermined calculation processing using a signal converted by theimage sensor 110. Based on a calculation result obtained by the videosignal processing unit 121, a central processing unit (CPU) 131 performsexposure control and distance measurement control. Through-the-lens(TTL) system autofocus (AF) processing and autoexposure (AE) processingare thus performed. The video signal processing unit 121 furtherperforms predetermined calculation processing, and performs TTL systemautomatic white balance (AWB) processing, based on the obtainedcalculation result.

Image data processed by the video signal processing unit 121 is held ina memory 132, and then written into a recording medium 173 via aninterface (I/F) 172. The image data held in the memory 132 can be outputfrom a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) output terminal 154via a display control unit 151.

A nonvolatile memory 133 is a memory serving as an electrically erasableprogrammable recording medium. For example, a flash read-only memory(ROM) is used as the nonvolatile memory 133. The nonvolatile memory 133stores operation constants of the CPU 131 and programs. The programsrefer to computer programs for executing various flowcharts to bedescribed below in the present exemplary embodiment.

The CPU 131 is a control unit including at least one processor orcircuit, and controls the entire video camera 100 via a bus 150. Byexecuting a program stored in the above-described nonvolatile memory133, the CPU 131 implements each piece of processing according to thepresent exemplary embodiment, which will be described below.

For example, a random access memory (RAM) is used as the memory 132.Operation constants and variables of the CPU 131 are loaded onto thememory 132. The memory 132 also serves as an image display memory (videoRAM (VRAM)). The CPU 131 also performs display control by controllingthe memory 132 and the display control unit 151.

A graphics processing unit (GPU) 152 reads out character font data andicon image data from the nonvolatile memory 133, and draws on-screendisplay (OSD) data onto the VRAM of the memory 132. By drawing an iconand characters in a 90-degree rotated state or a 270-degree rotatedstate, it is also possible to draw a VRAM specialized in vertical imagecapturing. In other words, a VRAM can be drawn in a display directiondifferent from a reference direction by 90 degrees.

The display control unit 151 reads out an image and the VRAM of the OSDfrom the memory 132, performs predetermined calculation, such as VRAMcombination, and then outputs a video signal to a liquid crystal display(LCD) 153 and the HDMI output terminal 154. The display control unit 151can perform 180-degree rotated display by reading out a VRAM upside downand right side left as described below. The display control unit 151 canalso output a control signal for controlling an external monitor 301connected to the video camera 100, from the HDMI output terminal 154.

A hinge 155 is a connection unit that has a biaxial rotational mechanismand is disposed between the LCD 153 and a casing 101. The hinge 155 canrealize at least two movable configurations including a state in whichthe hinge 155 is operated to set the LCD 153 at a position in contactwith the casing 101 and a screen to face outward, and a state in whichthe hinge 155 is operated to set the LCD 153 at a position separatedfrom the casing 101 and the screen to face inward. The hinge 155 alsohas a function of detecting whether the current state is either of thestates.

A touch panel 156 can detect a finger touch on the LCD 153, and the CPU131 can read a coordinate of the touched position.

A power supply unit 157 supplies power to the entire video camera 100.

An operation unit 164 is an operation unit including operation members,such as various switches and buttons, for receiving various operationsfrom a user. The operation unit 164 at least includes a power switch, amenu key, a direction key, a determination key, and an assign button.

The external monitor 301 is an external monitor (external device)connectable with the video camera 100 via an HDMI input terminal 303 anda cable connected to the HDMI output terminal 154. A display unit 302 isa display unit of the external monitor 301. Under the control of a CPU304, the display unit 302 can display (can output) a video signal outputfrom the video camera 100. The external monitor 301 includes asupporting column and a leg suitable for the orientation in which a longside of the display unit 302 corresponds to a horizontal direction. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, the orientation is treated as areference direction of the external monitor 301. The external monitor301 may include a supporting column rotatable in the orientation inwhich the long side of the display unit 302 corresponds to a verticaldirection. Alternatively, the external monitor 301 may include anattachment unit mountable to the video camera 100 via an accessory shoe104 to be described below.

An orientation detection unit (not illustrated in FIG. 1 ) that candetect the orientation of the video camera 100 may be disposed in thevideo camera 100. In this case, the CPU 131 acquires a display directionof the LCD 153 in accordance with the detection result of theorientation detection unit. The display direction is defined as arotational angle in a plane parallel to the screen of the LCD 153 from areference orientation when the reference orientation (referencedirection) refers to a state in which the long side of the screen of theLCD 153 corresponds to the horizontal direction, and the screen facestoward a back surface direction of the video camera 100. In other words,the display direction is defined as a rotational angle in the planeparallel to the screen of the LCD 153. The same applies to the externalmonitor 301, and the display direction of the external monitor 301 isdefined as a rotational angle in a plane parallel to a screen of theexternal monitor 301.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are external views of the video camera 100 according tothe present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2C is an external view of theexternal monitor 301.

FIG. 2A illustrates the state in which the hinge 155 is operated to setthe LCD 153 at a position to be in contact with the casing 101 and thescreen to face outward. In this orientation state, both of the imagesensor 110 and the LCD 153 are in the orientation in which their longsides correspond to the horizontal direction, and an image displayed inthe LCD 153 is also set in a landscape orientation. In this state, thesame landscape image as the image displayed on the LCD 153 is displayedon the display unit 302 of the external monitor 301. Because the LCD 153and the display unit 302 both include landscape display regions, it ispossible to display landscape images by effectively utilizing therespective display regions. In the present exemplary embodiment, theorientation of the video camera 100 in the above-described state, thatis to say, a state in which a longer direction of the LCD 153corresponds to the horizontal direction is treated as the orientation ofthe reference direction of the video camera 100.

In a case where the video camera 100 is set in an orientation rotated by90 degrees from the reference direction on the display surface of theLCD 153, the image sensor 110 and the LCD 153 are both set in theorientation in which their long sides correspond to the verticaldirection. For capturing a higher definition image of a vertically longsubject, such as a person in a standing posture, it is desirable tocapture the image in this orientation, that is to say, it is desirableto perform vertical image capturing. The same applies to a case wherethe video camera 100 is set in an orientation rotated by 270 degreesfrom the reference direction on the display surface of the LCD 153. Theuser selects either orientation of 90-degree rotation and 270-degreerotation that is to be used in vertical image capturing, inconsideration of the state of an obstacle existing near the video camera100, the operability of the operation unit 164, the layout of anaccessory or a cable attached to the video camera 100, and conform ofthe user capturing an image against fatigue. Depending on an imagecapturing situation, it can be considered that a series of imagecapturing processes is performed while the user frequently switchesbetween the orientation of 90-degree rotation and the orientation of270-degree rotation.

On the other hand, in a case where the external monitor 301 is set inthe orientation rotated by 90 degrees from the reference direction onthe display surface of the display unit 302, the screen of the externalmonitor 301 is set in the orientation in which the long side correspondsto vertical direction. For monitoring an image vertically captured bythe video camera 100, it is desirable to set the external monitor 301 inthis orientation. The same applies to a case where the external monitor301 is set in the orientation rotated by 270 degrees from the referencedirection on the display surface of the external monitor 301. The userselects either orientation of 90-degree rotation and 270-degree rotationas the orientation of the external monitor 301, in consideration of anorientation to which a rotational mechanism included in a stand of theexternal monitor 301 is adapted, or an orientation suitable for anoperation unit of the external monitor 301 with respect to the screen.

The casing 101 is a casing unit of the video camera 100, and encompassesthe components excluding the LCD 153.

The external monitor 301 larger than the LCD 153 is attached to theaccessory shoe 104, and an image output from the HDMI output terminal154 can be monitored on the external monitor 301. With thisconfiguration, there is no need to provide an installation location ofan external monitor separately from the video camera 100, and it ispossible to perform monitoring using a large monitor in a saved space.In this configuration, in a case where the video camera 100 is set inthe orientation of 90-degree rotation, the external monitor 301 is alsoset in the orientation of 90-degree rotation, and in a case where thevideo camera 100 is set in the orientation of 270-degree rotation, theexternal monitor 301 is also set in the orientation of 270-degreerotation.

FIG. 2B illustrates a state in which the hinge 155 is rotated by 180degrees from the state illustrated in FIG. 2A, and the LCD 153 isrotated to face the same direction as the LCD 153 in FIG. 2A, in thereference orientation of the video camera 100.

In this state, in a case where an image displayed in the referencedirection in FIG. 2A is displayed as-is on the LCD 153, an imageinverted vertically and horizontally is displayed on the LCD 153. Forachieving a desirable display mode, the CPU 131 causes the displaycontrol unit 151 to output an image rotated by 180 degrees to the LCD153, based on a rotational state of the hinge 155. The CPU 131 can thusperform display in apparently the same orientation as that in FIG. 2A.In the present exemplary embodiment, the orientation in FIG. 2A and theorientation in FIG. 2B are both treated as orientations in the referencedirection of the video camera 100.

Display processing according to the present exemplary embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3 . The processing is implemented bythe CPU 131 loading a program recorded on the nonvolatile memory 133,onto the memory 132, and executing the program. The processing isstarted when the power of the video camera 100 is turned on by theoperation of the power switch included in the operation unit 164, anddisplay on the LCD 153 and the external monitor 301 becomes executable.

In step S301, the CPU 131 determines whether menu display is requestedby pressing of the menu key included in the operation unit 164. In acase where the CPU 131 determines that a menu screen is required to bedisplayed (YES in step S301), the processing proceeds to step S302. In acase where the CPU 131 determines that a menu screen is not required tobe displayed (NO in step S301), the processing proceeds to step S319.

In step S302, the CPU 131 displays the menu screen on the LCD 153. Onthe menu screen, for example, items indicating a setting of a time, asetting related to autofocus (AF) processing, and a setting indicatingwhether to superimpose information display on a live view (LV) screenare displayed for each page. On the menu screen, items indicating asetting related to the display direction of the LCD 153, and a settingrelated to the display direction of the external monitor 301 via an HDMIare also displayed as described below. On the menu screen, the user canselect an item to be set, using the direction key included in theoperation unit 164. Each menu setting can be assigned to the assignbutton included in the operation unit 164. By pressing the assign buttonto which a menu setting is assigned, the setting can be changed any timein accordance with a processing procedure (not illustrated) withoutopening the menu screen.

Items to be displayed on the menu screen will now be described withreference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the menuscreen includes the following setting items. More specifically, an item401 for setting a display direction of the LCD 153 (hereinafter, an LCDdisplay direction), and an item 402 for setting a display direction of avideo signal to be output from the HDMI output terminal 154(hereinafter, an HDMI display direction) are displayed. By selecting anyof these items, a display direction can be set.

The display direction refers to a rotational direction of the display ofan image and characters to be output, and refers to a display angle or arotational angle that is based on a display orientation set in a casewhere rotation processing is not performed. For example, the displaydirection set to standard refers to a state in which the displayed imageand character viewed from the user are in an easy-to-read orientationwhen the video camera 100 and the external monitor 301 are set in theorientation of the reference direction (the video camera 100 is in thestate illustrated in FIG. 2A, and the external monitor 301 is in thestate illustrated in FIG. 2C). Each reference direction indicates a casewhere a longer direction of a display surface extends along thehorizontal direction, and the bottom surface of each apparatus faces agravitational force direction. The reference direction of a monitorcorresponds to a direction in which the monitor is set in such a mannerthat a longer direction becomes horizontal in an orientation in which aleg is attached. In short, a standard display direction is a directionin which display output is performed without performing rotationprocessing. When a display direction is set to 90-degree rotation, animage, characters, and an icon are output in such a manner as to bedisplayed on a display unit rotated clockwise by 90 degrees with respectto the standard display state. With this configuration, when the displayunit is rotated clockwise by 90 degrees, an image and characters aredisplayed in a direction easy-to-read for the user. The standard settingindicates the reference direction, and indicates a display direction of0-degree rotation (output without performing rotation processing).

In step S303, the CPU 131 determines whether the set display directionof the LCD 153 is standard. The set display direction of the LCD 153 andthe HDMI display direction are recorded on the memory 132. The CPU 131performs the determination by referring to the memory 132. In a casewhere the CPU 131 determines that the display direction of the LCD 153is set to standard (YES in step S303), the processing proceeds to stepS304. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that the display directionof the LCD 153 is not set to standard (NO in step S303), the processingproceeds to step S305.

In step S304, the CPU 131 grays out the item 402 on the menu screenbeing displayed on the LCD 153. The grayed-out item becomes visuallydistinguishable from other items, and indicates that the item is in astate of not receiving a setting change. The standard LCD displaydirection can be rephrased as a direction in which the video camera 100is in the orientation of the reference direction, and in an orientationfor capturing a landscape image. Thus, in a case where the orientationof the external monitor 301 is also set to the orientation of thereference direction, the user can check a captured image in a directionin which the video camera 100 performs image capturing. In other words,because a display direction needs not be set to 90-degree rotation or270-degree rotation, in a case where the LCD display direction is set tostandard, the HDMI display direction is also set to the referencedirection. By graying out the item 402 as described above, it ispossible to prevent the user from selecting a setting unnecessary to bechanged, and avoid confusion and an increase in the number of settingoperations. When the item 402 is grayed out, even in a case where theassign button to which the item 402 is assigned is pressed, a settingcannot be changed. For example, in a case where the video camera 100performs vertical image capturing, there is a possibility that the HDMIdisplay direction is set to 90-degree rotation or 270-degree rotation asbe described below. When an image capturing direction is changed toimage capturing in the landscape orientation from this state, the useris highly likely to change the display direction of the LCD 153 tostandard, and further change the orientation of the external monitor 301to the orientation of the reference direction. In this case, because theHDMI display direction is desirably set to the standard directionsimilarly to the display direction of the LCD 153, after the item 402 isgrayed out, as described above, an image is output without performingrotation processing irrespective of the state of an HDMI displaysetting. With this configuration, the number of setting operations to beperformed by the user can be reduced, while an image is output in anorientation easy-to-read for the user.

In step S305, the CPU 131 enables the grayed out item, i.e., the item402, on the menu screen being displayed on the LCD 153.

In step S306, the CPU 131 determines whether an instruction for changingthe LCD display direction is issued on the menu screen. In other words,the CPU 131 determines whether the item 401 is selected on the menuscreen. The selection of the item 401 or 402 can be performed by anoperation on the direction key and the determination key included in theoperation unit 164, or a touch operation on the LCD 153. In a case wherethe CPU 131 determines that an instruction for changing the LCD displaydirection is issued (YES in step S306), the processing proceeds to stepS307. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that an instruction forchanging the LCD display direction is not issued (NO in step S306), theprocessing proceeds to step S311.

In step S307, the CPU 131 displays selection candidates of the LCDdisplay direction on the LCD 153. More specifically, the CPU 131displays standard, 90-degree rotation, and 270-degree rotation asselection candidates. FIG. 4B illustrates an example indicatingselection candidates of the LCD display direction. An item 403 indicatesthat the LCD display direction is set to standard, an item 404 indicatesthat the LCD display direction is set to 90-degree rotation, and an item405 indicates that the LCD display direction is set to 270-degreerotation. The user can select any of these items. Both of the case of90-degree rotation and the case of 270-degree rotation correspond torotational angles different from the standard direction by 90 degrees.The selection of an item can be performed by an operation on thedirection key and the determination key included in the operation unit164. A setting of setting the display direction of the LCD 153 tostandard is a setting for capturing a landscape image with the videocamera 100 being set in the orientation of the reference direction. Asetting of setting the display direction of the LCD 153 to 90-degreerotation is a setting for capturing a portrait image with the videocamera 100 being set in an orientation rotated clockwise by 90 degreesfrom the reference direction. In addition, a setting of setting thedisplay direction of the LCD 153 to 270-degree rotation is a setting forcapturing a portrait image with the video camera 100 being set in anorientation rotated clockwise by 270 degrees from the referencedirection. In other words, while a setting of a display directionfollows the orientation of the video camera 100, by enabling the user toset the orientation of image capturing on the menu screen in an imagecapturing site, it becomes easier to correctly set other related itemsbecause the user can be aware of an imaging setting.

In step S308, the CPU 131 determines whether the setting is changed bythe user from the setting of the currently-set LCD display direction. Ina case where the CPU 131 determines that the setting of the LCD displaydirection is changed (YES in step S308), the processing proceeds to stepS309. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that the setting of the LCDdisplay direction is not changed (NO in step S308), the processingproceeds to step S310.

In step S309, the CPU 131 records the LCD display direction setting onthe memory 132.

In step S310, the CPU 131 determines whether to end the setting of theLCD display direction. The setting of the LCD display direction can beended by pressing of a return button 73. In a case where the CPU 131determines that the setting of the LCD display direction is to be ended(YES in step S310), the processing returns to step S303. In a case wherethe CPU 131 determines that the setting of the LCD display direction isnot to be ended (NO in step S310), the processing returns to step S307.The processing in step S310 may not be performed. A configuration ofautomatically changing the setting of the display direction of the LCD153 instead of setting the display direction of the LCD 153 inaccordance with a processing procedure from steps S306 to S310 can alsobe considered. For example, in a case where the video camera 100includes an orientation detection unit, such as a gravity sensor, anorientation can be identified. Based on the detection result of theorientation, the CPU 131 can determine whether the video camera 100 isin the orientation of the reference direction, in the orientation of90-degree rotation, or the orientation of 270-degree rotation, and canautomatically set a display direction suitable for the orientation.

In step S311, the CPU 131 determines whether an instruction for changingthe HDMI display direction is issued on the menu screen. In other words,the CPU 131 determines whether the item 402 is selected on the menuscreen. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that an instruction forchanging the HDMI display direction is issued (YES in step S311), theprocessing proceeds to step S312. In a case where the CPU 131 determinesthat an instruction for changing the HDMI display direction is notissued (NO in step S312), the processing proceeds to step S317.

In step S312, the CPU 131 determines whether the current setting of theLCD display direction is set to standard. In a case where the LCDdisplay direction is set to standard (YES in step S312), the processingproceeds to step S306. In a case where the LCD display direction is notset to standard (NO in step S312), the processing proceeds to step S313.In a case where the LCD display direction is set to standard, becausethe setting of the HDMI display direction is grayed out as describedabove, setting change processing is not performed, and the processingproceeds to step S306.

In step S313, the CPU 131 displays selection candidates of the HDMIdisplay direction on the LCD 153. More specifically, the CPU 131displays LCD-synchronized, 90-degree rotation, and 270-degree rotationas selection candidates. FIG. 4C illustrates an example indicatingselection candidates of the HDMI display direction. An item 406indicates that the HDMI display direction is set to LCD-synchronized, anitem 407 indicates that the HDMI display direction is set to 90-degreerotation, and an item 408 indicates that the HDMI display direction isset to 270-degree rotation. The user can select any of these items. Bothof the case of 90-degree rotation and the case of 270-degree rotationcorrespond to rotational angles different from the reference directionby 90 degrees, and indicate that an image is displayed in the portraitorientation. A selection operation in step S313 can be performed by anoperation on the direction key and the determination key included in theoperation unit 164. A setting of setting the HDMI display direction to90-degree rotation is a setting for displaying an image in a portraitorientation in which the external monitor 301 is rotated clockwise by 90degrees from the reference direction. A setting of setting the HDMIdisplay direction to 270-degree rotation is a setting for displaying animage in a portrait orientation in which the external monitor 301 isrotated clockwise by 270 degrees from the reference direction. In otherwords, the setting of the HDMI display direction indicates theorientation of the external monitor 301. In this manner, by making theorientation of the external monitor 301 selectable from amongcamera-synchronized, 90-degree rotation, and 270-degree rotation, andfurther performing display output in accordance with the selectedorientation, it is possible to reduce the number of setting operationsthat is performed when the external monitor 301 is attached integrallywith the video camera 100, or is changed in orientation insynchronization with the video camera 100. In other words, by settingthe orientation of the external monitor 301 to camera-synchronized, itis possible to remove a burden of resetting the display direction of theexternal monitor 301 each time the orientation of the video camera 100is changed. By setting a display direction in other cases, it ispossible to appropriately output an image in accordance with theorientation of the external monitor 301.

In step S314, the CPU 131 determines whether the setting is changed bythe user from the setting of the currently-set HDMI display direction.In a case where the CPU 131 determines that the setting of the HDMIdisplay direction is changed (YES in step S314), the processing proceedsto step S315. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that the setting ofthe HDMI display direction is not changed (NO in step S314), theprocessing proceeds to step S316.

In step S315, the CPU 131 records the HDMI display direction setting onthe memory 132.

In step S316, the CPU 131 determines whether to end the setting of theHDMI display direction. The setting of the HDMI display direction can beended by pressing of the return button 73. In a case where the CPU 131determines that the setting of the HDMI display direction is to be ended(YES in step S316), the processing returns to step S306. In a case wherethe CPU 131 determines that the setting of the HDMI display direction isnot to be ended (NO in step S316), the processing returns to step S313.The processing in step S316 may not be performed. In step S317, the CPU131 determines whether to end displaying the menu screen. An endinstruction of the menu screen can be issued by pressing of the menu keyincluded in the operation unit 164. In a case where the CPU 131determines that the display of the menu screen is to be ended (YES instep S317), the processing returns to step S301. In a case where the CPU131 determines that the display of the menu screen is not to be ended(NO in step S317), the processing proceeds to step S318.

In step S318, the CPU 131 changes the setting item to other items. Forexample the CPU 131 changes to setting items, such as a setting relatedto white balance (WB) processing, and a setting related to imagingresolution.

In step S319, the CPU 131 determines whether a mode is switched to animage capturing mode. The image capturing mode can be switched bypressing of a shutter button or a mode selection switch. In a case wherethe CPU 131 determines that a mode is switched to the image capturingmode (YES in step S319), the processing proceeds to step S320. In a casewhere the CPU 131 determines that a mode is not switched to the imagecapturing mode (NO in step S319), the processing proceeds to step S323.

In step S320, the CPU 131 performs HDMI display processing illustratedin FIG. 5 .

In step S321, the CPU 131 performs LCD display processing illustrated inFIG. 6 . More specifically, the CPU 131 displays a captured image on theLCD 153 without performing rotation processing.

In step S322, the CPU 131 performs imaging processing. In the imagingprocessing, the CPU 131 can perform image capturing of a still image andimage capturing of a moving image.

In step S323, the CPU 131 determines whether to end the displayprocessing. The display processing is ended in a case where a power-offinstruction is issued by an operation of the power switch included inthe operation unit 164. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that thedisplay processing is to be ended (YES in step S323), the processingillustrated in FIG. 3 is ended. In a case where the CPU 131 determinesthat the display processing is not to be ended (NO in step S323), theprocessing returns to step S301.

In the exemplary embodiment described above, the user can set the LCDdisplay direction and the HDMI display direction on the menu screen.

Next, the HDMI display processing according to the present exemplaryembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5 . The processingis implemented by the CPU 131 controlling each component of the videocamera 100, based on a program recorded on the nonvolatile memory 133.The HDMI display processing is started in response to the processingproceeding to step S320 of FIG. 3 .

In step S501, the CPU 131 acquires the LCD display direction and theHDMI display direction from the memory 132.

In step S502, the CPU 131 determines whether the LCD display directionis set to standard. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that the LCDdisplay direction is set to standard (YES in step S502), the processingproceeds to step S503. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that theLCD display direction is not set to standard (NO in step S502), theprocessing proceeds to step S504.

In step S503, the CPU 131 outputs an image and OSD (information to bedisplayed superimposed on the image) to an HDMI without rotation. Thus,a captured image 801 and image capturing information 802 are displayedon the external monitor 301 as illustrated in FIG. 8A. FIG. 8Aillustrates that the LCD 153 of the video camera 100 and the externalmonitor 301 are both in the orientation of the reference direction. Thecaptured image 801 and the image capturing information 802 are bothdisplayed in the same orientation when viewed from the user.

In step S504, the CPU 131 determines whether the LCD display directionis set to 90-degree rotation. In a case where the CPU 131 determinesthat the LCD display direction is set to 90-degree rotation (YES in stepS504), the processing proceeds to step S505. In a case where the CPU 131determines that the LCD display direction is not set to 90-degreerotation (NO in step S504), the processing proceeds to step S509.

In step S505, the CPU 131 determines whether the HDMI display directionis set to LCD-synchronized. In a case where the CPU 131 determines thatthe HDMI display direction is set to LCD-synchronized (YES in stepS505), the processing proceeds to step S507. In a case where the CPU 131determines that the HDMI display direction is not set toLCD-synchronized (NO in step S505), the processing proceeds to stepS506.

In step S506, the CPU 131 determines whether the HDMI display directionis set to 90-degree rotation. In a case where the CPU 131 determinesthat the HDMI display direction is set to 90-degree rotation (YES instep S506), the processing proceeds to step S507. In a case where theCPU 131 determines that the HDMI display direction is not set to90-degree rotation (NO in step S506), the processing proceeds to stepS508.

In step S507, while drawing the image capturing information 802 in a90-degree rotated state, the CPU 131 outputs an image to the HDMI outputterminal 154 in the same display direction as the LCD 153 withoutperforming rotation processing. A display mode at this time is a mode asillustrated in FIG. 8B. FIG. 8B illustrates that the video camera 100and the external monitor 301 are both in the orientation rotatedclockwise by 270 degrees from the reference direction. The capturedimage 801 and the image capturing information 802 are both displayed inthe same orientation when viewed from the user.

In step S508, while drawing the image capturing information 802 in a90-degree rotated state, the CPU 131 outputs an image to the HDMI outputterminal 154 in a 180-degree rotated state. A display mode at this timeis a mode as illustrated in FIG. 8C. FIG. 8C illustrates that the videocamera 100 is in the orientation of 270-degree rotation from thereference direction, and the external monitor 301 is in the orientationof 90-degree rotation from the reference direction. The captured image801 and the image capturing information 802 are both displayed in thesame orientation when viewed from the user. The image capturinginformation 802 is changed in display position in such a manner that theimage capturing information 802 is located at the upper right of thescreen when viewed from the user, similarly to FIG. 8A, instead of beingmerely displayed in a rotated state. Processing of rotating the HDMIdisplay direction by 180 degrees can be implemented by changing areadout order of a VRAM to be described below. Instead of rotating animage by changing a readout order of a VRAM, a control signal forrotating an image by 180 degrees may be output from the display controlunit 151 to the HDMI output terminal 154. If an external monitorconnected to the HDMI output terminal 154 supports a 180-degree rotationsignal, an image can be displayed in a 180-degree rotated state by thefunction of the external monitor. With this configuration, a function ofchanging a readout order of a VRAM for HDMI output becomes unnecessaryin the video camera 100. On the other hand, in the case of rotating animage by changing a readout order of a VRAM, because an external monitorneeds not have a function of receiving a 180-degree rotated signal anddisplaying a rotated image, 180-degree rotated display can beimplemented by a general monitor. In step S509, the CPU 131 determineswhether the HDMI display direction is set to LCD-synchronized. In a casewhere the CPU 131 determines that the HDMI display direction is set toLCD-synchronized (YES in step S509), the processing proceeds to stepS511. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that the HDMI displaydirection is not set to LCD-synchronized (NO in step S509), theprocessing proceeds to step S510.

In step S510, the CPU 131 determines whether the HDMI display directionis set to 270-degree rotation. In a case where the CPU 131 determinesthat the HDMI display direction is set to 270-degree rotation (YES instep S510), the processing proceeds to step S511. In a case where theCPU 131 determines that the HDMI display direction is not set to270-degree rotation (NO in step S510), the processing proceeds to stepS512.

In step S511, while drawing the image capturing information 802 in a270-degree rotated state, the CPU 131 outputs an image including thesame content as the image displayed on the LCD 153, to the HDMI outputterminal 154 without performing rotation processing. A display mode atthis time is a mode as illustrated in FIG. 8D. FIG. 8D illustrates thatthe video camera 100 and the external monitor 301 are both in theorientation rotated clockwise by 90 degrees from the referencedirection. The captured image 801 and the image capturing information802 are both displayed in the same orientation when viewed from theuser.

In step S512, while drawing the image capturing information 802 in a270-degree rotated state, the CPU 131 outputs an image to the HDMIoutput terminal 154 in a 180-degree rotated state. A display mode atthis time is a mode as illustrated in FIG. 8E. FIG. 8E illustrates thatthe video camera 100 is in the orientation of 90-degree rotation fromthe reference direction, and the external monitor 301 is in theorientation of 270-degree rotation from the reference direction. Thecaptured image 801 and the image capturing information 802 are bothdisplayed in the same orientation when viewed from the user. Next, LCDdisplay processing according to the present exemplary embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6 . The processing is implemented bythe CPU 131 controlling each component of the video camera 100, based ona program recorded on the nonvolatile memory 133. The LCD displayprocessing is started in response to the processing proceeding to stepS321 of FIG. 3 .

In step S601, the CPU 131 acquires an operating state of the hinge 155,and determines whether the hinge 155 is in the state illustrated in FIG.2A. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that the hinge 155 is in thestate illustrated in FIG. 2A (YES in step S601), the processing proceedsto step S602. In a case where the CPU 131 determines that the hinge 155is not in the state illustrated in FIG. 2A (NO in step S601), theprocessing proceeds to step S603.

In step S602, the CPU 131 displays an image being captured, on the LCD153 without rotation.

In step S603, the CPU 131 displays an image being captured, on the LCD153 in a 180-degree rotated state.

By the above-described processing procedure, it is possible to displayan image on the LCD 153 in a direction desirable for the user,irrespective of which state of the states illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2Bthe LCD 153 is in.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a VRAM and areadout direction. A VRAM can be represented as a two-dimensionalsurface like a screen 901(a). In the case of moving image data,generally, a VRAM is read out rightward from a left upper end pixel902(a), and when a readout position reaches a right end pixel, a readoutposition moves to a left end pixel of the following line immediatelybelow the current line. When a readout position reaches a right lowerend pixel 903(a) by the scanning performed by the repetition, readout ofa VRAM corresponding to one screen is completed. In a case where readoutscanning is performed in the same order as drawing, and an image isdisplayed on the external monitor 301, a normal display 901(b) withoutrotation is obtained. On the other hand, in a case where readoutscanning is performed in a reverse order of the drawing by reading out aVRAM from the right lower end pixel 903(a) toward the left upper endpixel 902(a), a screen 901(c) obtained by rotating the entire screen by180 degrees can be displayed on the external monitor 301. In otherwords, by reading out a VRAM upside down and right side left, a screento be displayed can be output to the external monitor 301 in a180-degree rotated state. Control may be performed in such a manner thatrotation processing is performed on the CPU 304 side of the externalmonitor 301.

According to the exemplary embodiment described above, it is determinedwhether to perform rotation processing of an image when the image isoutput to an HDMI, in accordance with the LCD display direction and theHDMI display direction that are set by the user. In a case whererotation processing is required, an image is output in a 180-degreerotated state.

In other words, in a case where it is determined to be NO in step S506or NO in step S510, an image is output to the HDMI output terminal 154in a 180-degree rotated state. With this configuration, even in a casewhere the orientation of the video camera 100 and the orientation of theexternal monitor 301 are orientations different by 180 degrees, it ispossible to desirably display an image on the external monitor 301without rotating the image upside down. Whether to output an image in a180-degree rotated state is controlled in accordance with whether adisplay direction is rotated from the reference direction by 90 degrees,or rotated by 270 degrees different from the 90-degree rotation by 180degrees. In a case where the image is not to be rotated by 180 degrees,rotation processing of the image is not performed. In other words, theorientation of the video camera 100 and the orientation of the externalmonitor 301 can be selected on the menu screen, and whether to rotate animage by 180 degrees is varied in accordance with the selection result.With this configuration, even in a case where image capturing or displayin the portrait orientation is performed by the user setting theorientation in either orientation of the orientation of 90-degreerotation or the orientation of 270-degree rotation, display can beperformed in a direction easy-to-read for the user.

In addition, in a case where it is determined to be YES in step S506 orYES in step S510, an image is output to the HDMI output terminal 154without rotation. FIG. 7 illustrates a table separately indicating acase where an image is output to an HDMI in a 180-degree rotated state,and other cases. Because the HDMI display direction is preset to90-degree rotation or 270-degree rotation in accordance with aninstallation orientation of the external monitor 301, even in a casewhere the user frequently changes the LCD display direction between90-degree rotation and 270-degree rotation, in accordance with animaging situation, there is no need to reset the HDMI display direction.It is also possible to continuously display an image and OSD on theexternal monitor 301 in a desirable orientation without reinstalling theexternal monitor 301.

In addition, in a case where it is determined to be YES in step S502, animage is output to an HDMI without rotation irrespective of a settingstate of the HDMI display direction. With this configuration, even in acase where image capturing in the landscape orientation is desired to beperformed during vertical image capturing, it is possible to output thesame image as the image displayed on the LCD 153, to the externalmonitor 301 without changing the setting of the HDMI display direction.On the other hand, in a case where it is determined to be NO in stepS502, that is to say, in a case where the LCD display direction is theportrait orientation, because the user is performing image capturing inthe portrait orientation, the external monitor 301 is highly likely tobe set in the portrait orientation. When the external monitor 301 isused in the landscape orientation, the external monitor 301 is installedin such a manner that a leg portion of the external monitor 301 isoriented toward the ground side. On the other hand, in a case where theexternal monitor 301 is set in the portrait orientation, it is uncertainwhether the external monitor 301 is rotated by 90 degrees or rotated by270 degrees from the orientation of the reference direction. In a casewhere the LCD display direction is set to 90-degree rotation and theHDMI display direction is set to 270-degree rotation, or in a case wherethe LCD display direction is set to 270-degree rotation and the HDMIdisplay direction is set to 90-degree rotation, there is a possibilitythat a captured image and image capturing information look upside downwhen viewed from the user, if rotation processing of an image is notperformed. Thus, in a case where the LCD display direction is set to theportrait orientation, a setting state of the HDMI display direction isdetermined, and rotation processing is performed in accordance with thedetermined setting state, and therefore it is possible to display acaptured image and image capturing information in a directioneasy-to-read for the user.

Irrespective of the setting state of a display direction, an image isoutput to an HDMI without rotation. With this configuration, even in anoperation in which the external monitor 301 is installed in theaccessory shoe 104, and the orientation of the video camera 100 and theorientation the external monitor 301 are always set to the sameorientation, operability is enhanced. In other words, there is no needto reset the HDMI display direction each time the display direction ofthe LCD 153 is changed, and it is possible to always display an image onthe external monitor 301 in a desirable orientation.

Instead of performing rotation processing on the video camera 100 whenan image is output to an HDMI, an image may be output to the HDMItogether with an instruction for rotation display, and the image may bedisplayed after rotation processing is performed on the external monitor301.

The above-described various types of control that are performed by theCPU 131 may be performed by a single hardware component, or a pluralityof hardware components may control the entire apparatus while sharingprocessing.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been describedin detail, but the present invention is not limited to these specificexemplary embodiments, and various configurations are also included inthe present invention without departing from the gist of the invention.Furthermore, each of the above-described exemplary embodiments merelyindicates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and theexemplary embodiments can also be appropriately combined.

The HDMI output terminal 154 can be replaced with a terminal adapted toa different video output standard, such as a serial digital interface(SDI). Also in the case of transmitting an image to an external monitorvia an internet protocol (IP) using Ethernet or a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN), the present invention can be applied.

In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the description has beengiven of an example case where the present invention is applied to animaging control apparatus, but the present invention is not limited tothis example, and the present invention can be applied to any electronicdevice as long as the electronic device can perform external videooutput. More specifically, the present invention can be applied to amobile phone terminal, a portable image viewer, a printer apparatusincluding a viewfinder, a digital photo frame, a music player, a gamemachine, or an electronic book reader.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2020-118534, filed Jul. 9, 2020, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image capturing device comprising: a firstdisplay unit; a processor; and a memory storing instructions which, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor of the image capturingdevice to: communicate with an external device including a seconddisplay unit; and perform control, for obtaining a portrait image, torotate an image in accordance with a difference between a first anglewhich indicates rotational angle from a reference position in a planeparallel to a screen of the first display unit and a second angle whichindicates a rotational angle from a reference position in a planeparallel to a screen of the second display unit and output the rotatedimage to the external device, and for obtaining a landscape image, notto rotate the image regardless of difference between the first angle anda second and output the unrotated image to the external device.
 2. Theimage capturing device according to claim 1, wherein, in a case wherethe first angle is 90 degrees and the second angle is 270 degrees, theinstructions cause the image capturing device to perform control torotate the image by 180 degrees and output the rotated image to theexternal device for obtaining the portrait image.
 3. The image capturingdevice according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the first angle is270 degrees and the second angle is 90 degrees, the instructions causethe image capturing device to perform control to rotate the image by 180degrees and output the rotated image to the external device, forobtaining the portrait image.
 4. The image capturing device according toclaim 1, wherein, in a case where the first angle and the second angleare same, the instructions cause the image capturing device to performcontrol not to rotate the image and output the unrotated image to theexternal device for obtaining the portrait image.
 5. The image capturingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the instructions which, whenexecuted by the processor, further cause the processor of the imagecapturing device to detect an orientation of the first display unit,wherein the first angle is determined in accordance with the detectedorientation of the first display unit.
 6. The image capturing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the instructions which, when executed bythe processor, further cause the processor of the image capturing deviceto set the second angle in accordance with a selection by a user.
 7. Theimage capturing device according to claim 1, further comprising a lensunit; and an imaging unit, wherein the image capturing device generatesthe image by performing imaging process with the lens unit and theimaging unit.
 8. The image capturing device according to claim 1,wherein the first angle is 90 degrees or 270 degrees when capturing theportrait image.
 9. The image capturing device according to claim 1,wherein the first angle is 0 degrees when capturing the landscape image.10. A control method of an electronic device that includes a firstdisplay unit, and is configured to communicate with an external deviceincluding a second display unit, the control method comprising:performing control, for obtaining a portrait image, to rotate an imagein accordance with a difference between a first angle which indicatesrotational angle from a reference position in a plane parallel to ascreen of the first display unit and a second angle which indicates arotational angle from a reference position in a plane parallel to ascreen of the second display unit and output the rotated image to theexternal device, and for obtaining a landscape image, not to rotate theimage regardless of difference between the first angle and a second andoutput the unrotated image to the external device.
 11. A non-transitorystorage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute acontrol method of an electronic device that includes a first displayunit, and is configured to communicate with an external device includinga second display unit, the control method comprising: performingcontrol, for obtaining a portrait image, to rotate an image inaccordance with a difference between a first angle which indicatesrotational angle from a reference position in a plane parallel to ascreen of the first display unit and a second angle which indicates arotational angle from a reference position in a plane parallel to ascreen of the second display unit and output the rotated image to theexternal device, and for obtaining a landscape image, not to rotate theimage regardless of difference between the first angle and a second andoutput the unrotated image to the external device.